Approval requirements also depend on the site and intended use. In NSW, Section 68 approvals can apply to activities including installing a manufactured home or moveable dwelling and carrying out certain water, sewerage and stormwater works.
The NSW Planning Portal Section 68 guidance explains those requirements in more detail.
When the site may justify more planning
Some sites are straightforward. Others aren’t.
You might be placing one worker unit near an existing farmhouse with suitable access and nearby services. In that case, an available stock design may fit the job well.
A larger project can be different.
You might be coordinating several buildings, dealing with difficult access or working around existing infrastructure. That can require more project planning.
Extra planning doesn’t necessarily mean changing the housing designs.
Instead, it may mean choosing the right set designs and quantities, then working out where they’ll sit on the site.
The question is whether the available housing range and the site can work together properly.
4. Which features genuinely need to be specified?
Specify the things that materially change the housing outcome. With Aruva, made-to-order means selecting an established design and working through the specifications available for it. It doesn’t mean redesigning the floorplan from scratch. Separate genuine operational requirements from preferences before adding time or complexity to the project.
It’s easy for a list of preferences to turn into a list of “requirements”.
They’re not always the same thing.
When ordering a new build, separate what the project needs from what would simply be nice to have.
Depending on the chosen design and available specification options, that may include:
Need to have
- the right established bedroom and bathroom configuration
- the right design for the number of occupants
- required operational specifications
- selections needed for the intended use
Nice to have
- preferred finishes
- aesthetic preferences
- selections that don’t materially affect how the housing works
That doesn’t mean finishes don’t matter.
They do.
But weigh them against why you’re buying the housing in the first place.
For worker housing, the building needs to provide practical, comfortable accommodation that performs day after day.
If a pre-designed option already does that, standardisation may be helping the project rather than holding it back.
Aruva’s made-to-order option shouldn’t be read as unlimited customisation. It means ordering a suitable unit from the established design range and selecting from the specifications available for that design.
Don’t add complexity for the sake of it
More choices don’t automatically mean a better result.
Sometimes they just mean more decisions.
A proven standard design can be a strong option because the major decisions around function have already been worked through.
That’s particularly useful on farms, where housing is one part of a much bigger operation.
The job is to get suitable accommodation in place, keep the project moving and choose something built to handle the work over the long term.
5. Is waiting for a new build worth the operational delay?
Waiting is worthwhile only when the benefit of a particular design or specification is greater than the operational cost of delay. Compare what you gain by ordering a new unit with what suitable stock can already deliver. Timing, function, budget, workforce needs and future use should all be considered together.
If you order a new unit from Aruva’s established range, what are you gaining by waiting?
If you choose stock, what are you giving up?
Judge the options on the operational outcome. Don’t assume one approach must be better.
Consider:
- How much does the deadline matter?
- Does an available design already meet the important requirements?
- Is the required design in stock, in production or available only as a new order?
- Are there site requirements that affect which established design will work?
- Will the housing be used long enough to justify waiting?
- Is future growth likely to affect the number or type of units you need?
Budget matters too, but don’t look at it on its own.
Delay has a cost.
If workers can’t be accommodated when needed, that can affect recruitment, productivity and the wider operation.
But an available unit that doesn’t meet a long-term requirement can also create problems later.
The aim is to get timing, function, cost and complexity working together.
Scenario A: Harvest is approaching and suitable stock is available
Stock modular housing may be the practical choice when a fixed workforce deadline is approaching and an available unit already meets the required occupancy and layout. If changing finishes or waiting for another design won’t materially improve the housing outcome, getting the suitable unit in place sooner can make better commercial sense.
A farm needs accommodation for seasonal workers before harvest.
The number of workers is known. A current stock unit has the right bedroom and bathroom configuration. The layout works, and the site can be prepared in time.
The farm owner may prefer other finishes or available options. However, none would materially change how the accommodation performs.
The existing design already solves the problem.
Waiting for a new unit simply to gain a different preference could make the job harder without improving the operational result.
Scenario B: A larger long-term accommodation precinct is being planned
Ordering new units may make more sense when a larger, long-term project needs a particular mix of Aruva’s established designs that current stock can’t provide. Where occupancy, site planning and future growth are important, the operational value of getting the right set designs can justify the additional planning and build lead time.
A larger operator is planning accommodation for a growing workforce.
The housing will be used for years. The project also needs to account for occupancy numbers, site layout and future expansion.
The stock available at the time doesn’t provide the right mix of established designs for the project.
In that case, ordering new units from Aruva’s design range may be the better fit.
That’s not because made-to-order housing is automatically better.
It’s because the operator has a clear long-term requirement. Waiting for the right established designs and available specifications may produce a better operational outcome.
So, should you choose stock or made-to-order modular housing?
Choose stock modular housing when timing matters and an available design already meets the real requirement. Order a new unit when a particular established Aruva design or available specification materially improves the project and is worth the additional lead time. Neither option wins by default; the project requirement decides.
For most projects, the decision comes back to one question:
What’s the simplest housing solution that properly solves the problem?
If an available unit does that, standardisation is doing its job.
If the right established design needs to be built, waiting may be worthwhile.
The goal isn’t to end up with the most customised building.
It’s to end up with proven accommodation that fits the requirement, can be delivered in a practical timeframe and is built for the work ahead.
Real living comes from getting those fundamentals right: housing that works for the people using it and for the operation relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is stock modular housing ready for immediate delivery?
Not necessarily. Aruva stock can include units that are ready for delivery and units currently under construction. Stock also changes regularly. Final timing still depends on the individual unit, site readiness, approvals, transport, installation and other project requirements.
How long does a new Aruva modular build take?
Aruva’s published general guide is around 8–12 weeks to build a unit from scratch, depending on requirements. That timeframe excludes ordering, working through specifications and completing paperwork, so it shouldn’t be treated as a guaranteed project completion date.
Does Aruva offer custom modular housing in Australia?
Aruva doesn’t position its service as open-ended bespoke design. It works from an established range of pre-designed modular homes. A new unit can be ordered from that range with the specifications available for the selected design, rather than creating a general custom floorplan from scratch.
Does choosing a stock unit remove the need for approvals or site preparation?
No. A stock unit still needs a suitable site, access, foundations or footings, service connections and the relevant approval pathway. These requirements depend on the property, intended use and local rules. Aruva recommends checking them before locking in delivery.
When is ordering a new unit worth waiting for?
It’s worth considering when current stock doesn’t provide the established design, occupancy or available specification the project genuinely needs. The extra lead time should deliver a meaningful operational benefit, not simply more choice for its own sake.
